Water jet machine for cutting flat glass

ABSTRACT

A water jet machine employed in flat glass cutting, with horizontal cutting occurring by means of high pressure water combined with abrasives to perform holes and cutouts in said flat glass sheets, with the large differential, compared to the Water Jet machines existing in the market, to be able to work in automated production line, with feeding of the glass pieces, squaring and automatic referencing, serving in this format to the glass branch with high productivity and standardization of the productive process. According to its function, the water jet machine for flat glass cutting has the purpose of automatically perforating holes, cutouts, over or on glass sheets of various sizes in length, thickness, and width, in particular through the action of positioning tools and functional movements to machining.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present application is directed to the industrial sector and relates to a water jet machine employed in flat glass cutting, with horizontal cutting occurring by means of high pressure water combined with abrasives to perform holes and cut-outs in said flat glass sheets, with the large differential, compared to the Water Jet machines existing in the market, to be able to work in automated production line, with feeding of the glass pieces, squaring and automatic referencing, serving in this format to the glass branch with high productivity and standardization of the productive process.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

By means of an ultra-high-pressure abrasive fluid jet the abrasive particles are sucked and directed against the glass of a pressurized source. Currently, the market offers various configurations of machines for the cutting and reaming of flat glass, whether machines equipped with milling cutters or water jet combined with abrasives. Although functional, such machines always rely on auxiliary equipment to carry and position the glass below the car responsible for cutting or reaming the part. In the same way, the car always acts on the three axes (X, Y, and Z) while the part remains static during the cutting.

Referring to the most relevant prior art, U.S. Pat. No. 4,703,591 discloses a system for making single cuts, in raw glass of various thicknesses at a high speed. For initial penetration into the glass, the pressurized source is maintained at a first pressure level so that the glass is initially penetrated without fracturing or flaking unduly at the penetration point and wherein the flow of abrasive fluid can be advanced along the desired path to the glass at a first speed.

Although performing the task as determined by its specification, the ultra-high-pressure jet cutting machine does not have automated means for capturing and positioning the glass below the car, requiring the work of at least four people to insert the glass on its table, which action can compromise the appearance of the piece due to scratches possibly produced on its surface during the process. Another deficiency of the device is in the car which works on the three axes (X, Y, and Z), and may cause inaccuracies if the car is not perfectly calibrated or if there is an involuntary movement of the part during the process.

Realizing the absence of automated machines having water jet cutting combined with abrasives and deficiencies detected in the state of the art, the present invention aims at making available to the market a new technology capable of performing the cutting or reaming of glass parts in a more precise, automated, safe manner and without the possibility of generating faults in the parts, mainly scratches commonly caused in the prior arts.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS

The following description seeks to highlight the proposal at its principle level, without limiting itself to drawings or models of the components, with reference to the following illustrations listed below:

FIG. 1, schematic drawing depicting the water jet machine for cutting flat glass in front view;

FIG. 2, perspective view of the machine detailing its main mechanical and electronic components;

FIG. 3, isometric view depicting the integration of new tools in the waterjet machine for cutting flat glass;

FIG. 4, a schematic diagram depicting the item referred to as carriage and its applied components;

FIGS. 5 and 6, schematic diagrams in partial views highlighting the components inserted in the equipment carriage;

FIG. 7, side view depicting the components applied to the equipment carriage;

FIG. 8, isometric view of the loading and unloading counters detailing the replacement of belts by wheeled drive shafts;

FIGS. 9 and 10, partial side and isometric views of the machine depicting the set identified as the gripper;

FIG. 11 depicting the insertion of a second car at the base of the equipment;

FIGS. 12 and 13, side and front view of the second car depicting its main mechanical components.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

In accordance with FIGS. 1 and 2, the water jet machine for cutting flat glass (1) consists of the input table (2A) equipped with input conveyor belts (2.1) positioned along its longitudinal path and moved in the axis X, photoelectric sensors (2.2) (detail B) and sizing ruler (2.3) with respective sensor (2.4) (detail C), computer system (3) data storage in the supervisory, whether part measures, its cutouts and positions, main car (4A) (detail A and D) with cutting head (4.1) moved horizontally on the Y axis and vertically on the Z axis and, finally, an output table (2B) equipped with output conveyor belts (2.5) located on the equipment's longitudinal position.

The operation of the water jet machine for cutting flat glass (1) is initiated by operation at the input table (2A) which, through its input conveyor belts (2.1), receives the glass plate of a process prior to processing, it is moved and finished with automatic sizing of the part on sizing ruler (2.3) and pick-up by means of actuation of photoelectric sensors (2.2). In this initial stage, the operator recognizes the bar code of the part generated from the drawing made within a dedicated CAD software. The machine, in front of its system, stores the measures of the part, its cutouts and positions in the supervisor. Further, on the inlet conveyor belts (2.1), the part to be bored or sized is sent to the machine input where the second sensor (2.4) causes the conveyors to collect and move the part to the axis referencing mechanism responsible to find the zero point of the part. The machine now starts its cutting process by moving the part through the X axis through the input conveyor belts (2.1) while the main car (4A) carries out the cutting movement on the Y axis and approaches or retreats the cutting head (4.1) in the Z axis, the combination of these axes and interpolation of movements in an efficient and coordinated manner via PLC, taking into account the predefined drawing in the CAD software.

The cutout is generated by the high pressure of a water pumping intensifier system as of an external unit integrated into the machine, by sending to the cutting head (4.1) an abrasive water jet which cuts the glass sheet. After the machine has cut out all the defined patterns, the part is transferred by the input conveyor belts (2.1) to the next conveyors referred to as output conveyors (2.5) belonging to the output conveyor belts (2B) which can be coupled to another process machine of glass sheet processing.

In addition to the pattern presented, the waterjet glass cutting machine (1) according to FIGS. 3, 4 and 5, can use in its carriage (4A) a second tool referred to a diamond point (4.2) (detail E and F), which rotates by electric motor (4.3), is coupled parallel to the cutting head (4.1) and has movement in the Z-axis through the set of blocks (4.4) with rails or linear guides (4.5). The introduction of the point is intended to make the functions even more dynamic, as it is possible to cut, drill and finish the glass sheets with one equipment.

Another tool that can be used with the waterjet glass cutting machine (FIGS. 6 and 7) is a linear movement in X to the carriage (4A) to increase process precision and work possibilities. It is accomplished by inserting a second set of blocks (4.6) with rails or linear guides (4.7) into the upper section of the carriage, above the set of blocks (4.8) and rails or linear guides (4.9) already installed on the square section guide base (5) and responsible for the movement on the axis Y.

As for the loading (2A) and unloading (2B) counters of the glass sheets, the belts used (2.1 and 2.5) can be replaced by drive shafts (2.6) equipped with rubber or polymer wheels (2.7) (detail G of FIG. 8) over the entire length of said counters. When the drive shafts (2.6) are placed, the precision and stability in the transport and handling of the sheets are increased. There are also casters (2.8) which are randomly movable and fixed along longitudinal rods (2.9), assisting in the displacement of the sheet after its locking by the clamping set (6) during cutting or reaming thereof. The clamping set (6) (FIGS. 9 and 10) consists of two drive belts (6.1) and (6.2), the upper conveyor (6.1) is moved vertically by an actuator (6.3), thereby generating responsible pressure for keeping the glass sheet stabilized for the cutting or reaming process.

Finally, the last tool to be implemented is a second carriage (4B) (FIGS. 11, 12 and 13) at the subsequent end of the square section guide base (5); this carriage (4B) is moved linearly in Y by a set of blocks (4.6) with rails or linear guides (4.7) located in its upper section and consists of a cutting head (4.1), together with the diamond point (4.2), which performs in the same way the rotational movement by electric motor (4.3) and linear displacement in X by a set of blocks (4.4) and rails or linear guides (4.5) (detail H). By doubling the functionality of the equipment, it is possible to drill holes, cut out or ream the sheets on both sides simultaneously in one or two pieces with the same or different dimensions, saving time and reducing the number of sheets movements on the loading counter.

According to its function, the waterjet glass cutting machine performs the holes, cutouts and reaming in glass sheets of various sizes in length, thickness and width, especially by the action of the positioning tools and functional machining movements (holes and/or cutouts), configured for the main carriage (4A), loading counter (2A) and unloading counter (2B) functions, in particular by positioning and synchronized functional movements during the drilling or cutting process of a specific part, ensuring better performance, precision and productivity of the equipment, dispensing complementary equipment.

The inventive step must be understood in representative and non-limiting details and may undergo variations and modifications in its execution, provided that these modifications do not change the essence of the equipment. 

1- Water jet machine for cutting flat glass formed by an input table (2) provided with input conveyor belts (2.1) positioned along its longitudinal path and moved on the X axis, photoelectric sensors (2.2) and sizing ruler (2.3) with respective sensor (2.4), computerized system (3) data store in the supervisory, main car (4) with cutting head (4.1) moved horizontally on the Y axis and vertically on the Z axis and, finally, an output table (5) equipped with output conveyor belts (5.1) located in the equipment's longitudinal position; 2- Water jet machine for cutting flat glass, according to claim 1, characterized by a input conveyor belts (2.1) receiving the glass sheets of a process prior to the processing, carry out their movement and automatic sizing on the sizing ruler (2.3), perform their gathering by means of actuation of photoelectric sensors (2.2) and send said part to the machine input where the second sensor (2.4) causes said belts to collect and move the part to the referencing mechanism of axis responsible for picking the zero point of the part; 3- Water jet machine for cutting flat glass, according to claim 1, characterized in that the machine (1), after starting the cutting process itself, moves the part through the X axis through the input conveyor belts (2.1), while the main car (4) performs the cutting motion on the Y axis and approaches or retreats the cutting head (4.1) on the Z axis, with the combination of these axes and interpolation of movements coordinated via PLC; 4- Water jet machine for cutting flat glass, according to claim 1, characterized by that the machine (1), after cutting all the defined drawings, transfers the part, by means of the input conveyor belts (2.1), to the next conveyor belts called output conveyor belts (5.1), belonging to the outlet table (5). 5- Water jet machine for cutting flat glass, according to claim 1 characterized by use in its carriage (4A), of a second tool referred to as diamond point (4.2), which rotates by electric motor (4.3), is coupled parallel to the cutting head (4.1) and has movement in the Z-axis through the set of blocks (4.4) with rails or linear guides (4.5); 6- Water jet machine for cutting flat glass, according to the claim 1 characterized by the implementation of X-linear movement in the carriage (4A) by inserting a second set of blocks (4.6) with rails or linear guides (4.7) in the upper section of the said carriage (4A); 7- Water jet machine for cutting flat glass, according to claim 1 characterized by the belts used (2.1 and 2.5) being replaced by drive shafts (2.6) equipped with rubber or polymer wheels (2.7) over the entire length of the loading (2A) and unloading (2B) counters, wheels (2.8) fixed along longitudinal rods (2.9) and a clamping set (6) consisting of two drive belts (6.1) and (6.2), with the upper conveyor (6.1) moved vertically by an actuator (6.3); 8- Water jet machine for cutting flat glass, according to claim 1 characterized by the implementation of a second carriage (4B) at the subsequent end of the square section guide base (5); this carriage (4B) is moved linearly in Y by a set of blocks (4.6) with rails or linear guides (4.7) located in its upper section and consists of a diamond point (4.2), which rotates by electric motor (4.3) and linear displacement in X by a set of blocks (4.4) and rails or linear guides (4.5). 